I can’t believe it is 66 degrees out today. I checked my bees yesterday and they were flying busily, looking for something to harvest. The snow drops are up and so is the witch hazel, although I haven’t found them on those plants. However, I do live near the San Souci lakes with lots of skunk cabbage, and several greenhouses where there are flats of primroses and other lovely plants out. The bird bath is full of water so the ladies can have a nice drink. I gave them a good bucket of sugar syrup and hopefully they will fill up even though the hive still feels good and heavy.

Our meeting last month was outstanding with so many members attending. We had 36 members sign in, but I believe that some people forgot, because the room was full. How exiting to see so many intetested beekeepers. We had new members join, we’d like to welcome Creighton Wirick, John Kennedy, Edwin Urbat, and Robbie Rode and their families. Also Liz Casey and David Dew have renewed their interest in beekeeping and returned to our meeting. I have an additional stack of “I want to be a member” forms from the website that has been added to our database to receive the newsletter. While it doesn’t cost the club any $$$ to send out the email version of the newsletter, in the interest of keeping our membership list up-to-date, I ask that if you have any changes in your address, phone number, email address, or if you know of anyone who had previously expressed interest in the club but no longer wants to receive the newsletter or email from us, please let me know. I get some “return email” from people we haven’t heard from in a long time and no way to reach them. Again, if you know of these disinterested folks, please contact me.

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Recent Letters to the Editor:

Dear LIBC,
Please let the Club know that NY State is deciding to not fund the inspection program this year. It seems that a bunch of up-state commercial beekeepers have bent the ear of the politicians saying that we are unnecessary and disruptive as well as un-educated.
I try not to take offense.
Spring is close and the queens are laying ... this has to be a better summer than 2009!!!

All the best,
John Bernard
Ex NYS Apiary Inspector

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Dear LIBC,
Is this something we might be able to do on Long Island? It sounds like it would be helpful information to gather. [See below]

Kindest regards,
Eileen Roaman-Catalano

Farmer Grant Examples
A comparison of honeybee colony strength and survivability between nucleus and package started colonies
Grant ID Number: FNE09-665
Grant Recipient: Erin MacGregor-Forbes, Overland Apiaries, Portland ME
Beekeepers in Maine have seen high mortality in overwintered bees, and the farmer will test whether locally-sourced replacement bees perform better than packaged bees from the southern and western U.S. The goal is to identify whether small modifications in colony purchasing practices can reduce costs and result in healthier honeybee populations. Outreach will be through the beekeeping network.
Grant Amount: $9,993
http://nesare.org/get/farmers-examples/a-comparison-of-honeybee-colony-strength-and-survivability-between-nucleus-and-package-started-colon.html

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Dear LIBC,
Burgh Bees is a 375-member strong non-profit organization that promotes bees and beekeeping in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the surrounding region.
The planning department of the City of Pittsburgh has proposed an urban agriculture ordinance that will severely limit beekeeping in the City of Pittsburgh, without input from local beekeepers. We are respectfully requesting the support of beekeeping clubs in other states.
Please send an email to the Pittsburgh Planning Commission care of Jason Kambitsis of the Pittsburgh Planning Department at address jason.kambitsis@city.pittsburgh.pa.us urging the City Planning Commission to support urban beekeeping. Please cc Burghbees@gmail.com on your email to the city, so that we can keep a count!

Sincerely,
Joseph Zgurzynski
Master Beekeeper and Director of Education
Burgh Bees
www.BurghBees.com